Other facts

Notes

The Le Strange Website, focusing on the history and lineage of theHunstanton Le Strange family, does not report any ancestors beforeRoland. In the discussion of origins, they give background of thethree primary family lines that coalesced in Roland's line, butmention nothing about the legend of Guy or his father Hoel (Howell).Other genealogies and some histories refer to Guy a real person,attempting to separate him from the romance of legend that developedaround him in the stories of his grandson descendant.

Guy is said in legend to be from Metz. A 12th century romanceportrays him as the son of the Duke of Brittany. (Compare likewiseGuy's father Hoel Le Strange, whom some undocumented genealogies havetried to identify with Hoel V, County of Cornouaille in Brittany.These are normally undocumented and from a research verification pointof view are not confirmed, and seem fanciful.)

Guy's wife Mellette may be a true figure, so I have made her his wife. Sources, however, report his parents as Hoel (Howell) and Hawsie(sometimes found as Hawise). The bulk of the following presentationof the legend comes from the Le Strange Family Genealogy on the HartFamily Web Site, whose Corbet-Le Strange genealogy I have used as onebasis for the family lines of this period.

The legend bears many of the common characteristics of medievalromances, which were fanciful and mystical or flighty. These werecomposed for entertainment, but sometimes incorporated what modernswould consider actual "facts" about the characters involved. I haveedited the story for grammar and form, and expanded it slightly hereto include some cultural and historical clarification, for inclusionin my genealogy. -- OBJ

=============================================The le Strange legend that has been repeated through successivegenerations can be found in part of an epic tale, the "Romance ofFouke le fitz Warine." This French prose, which was written by anunknown author in traditional trouverian [troubadourian] style of the13th century, was translated and reproduced in early medieval timesfor its popularity gained by the declared outlaw.

Fulk is otherwise known as Fulk the son of Warine II. Warine is a formof the older Guarine, which came to be Warrenne, then Warren inEnglish usage. Compare the development of the Germanic name Gwillam,as Guillaume in French spelling, and William in English, and Guillermoin Portuguese or Spanish.

This latter name has a great variety of spelling throughout itshistory of usage in virtually all the languages of Europe through thepervasive presence of the Normans in every royal house of Europe,including Russia and Eastern domains.

The story of Guy and Fulk is a story set in the 11th century A.D.where it begins with a certain lady, Mellette, who features as theoutlaw's grandmother. In her youth, Mellette was united with herhusband Guy of Metz, who otherwise was known in France from whence hecame, as Guarine or Warine de Metz.

The chapter conveys how the le Strange family was founded, prior tothe Warines, when Mellette, a beautiful damsel has a joustingtournament arranged for by her wealthy uncle, William Peverel. Thiswas held in the time of William the Conqueror, in 1083 at his CastlePeveril (Peverel) in the Peak of Derbyshire England, and this is whereshe was expected to find a suitable husband, to which she replied:

------------------------------------"Sire, no knight is there in all the world that I would take for thesake of riches and the honour of this land but if ever I take such aone he shall be handsome and courteous and accomplished and the mostvaliant of his order in all Christendom. Of riches I make no account,for truly can I say that he is rich who has that which his heartdesires."-- from: Mellette, "The Romance of Fouk le fitz Warine"------------------------------------

Noblemen eager to win her as their bride -- together with dowryincluding the attractive white tower of Whitetown, known asWhittington Castle Shropshire -- came from every corner; Scotland,Wales and France. The two most salubrious guests, Owen Prince ofWales, and Eneas, Prince of Scotland, brought 200 knights along.

The Duke of Burgundy outnumbered them with a hundred more. Ydromor,Prince of Galloway came with a modest 150 men, but Guy (Guarine deMetz France ), son of John, Duke of Brittany, (Johan duc de laPetite-Bretagne), came with only a hundred, plus his 9 brothers.

Ultimately, Guy, with his life spared, victoriously claimed his wife,Mellette, who had already expressed her interest in him by sendingover her glove. It continues... "..... Guy remained in England, andconquered, by the force of his sword, many beautiful lands, and so wasnamed Guy le Strange ...."For more information see the"http://www.renderplus.com/hartgen/index.htm"-- Our Folk -- Hart family Web Site=============================================